News
First Lady Poised To Accelerate Development Of Cancer Centre
The First Lady, Hajiya Tuari Yar’ Adua is determined to accelerate development of the Abuja International Cancer Centre in order to take cancer treatment to the next level.
The FCT Minister, Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero dropped this hint on Tuesday while receiving the Vice President of Global Business Development and Managing Director of Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston Texas, USA, Mr. Mitch Latinkic in his office.
The Minister revealed that the design of the Centre is ready while the bill of quantity would be ready in three weeks to enable the real construction begin in earnest.
Senator Aliero disclosed that the construction and equipping of the Centre would be undertaken simultaneously because of the desire of the First Lady to record concrete achievement for the benefit of Nigerians especially those afflicted with the dreaded disease.
According to him, the whole effort of the First lady is for the Abuja International Cancer to be a Non-Governmental Organisation to give access to all classes of Nigerians irrespective of their social standing to benefit from its services at ease.
His words: “The Abuja International Cancer Centre would be private sector driven as the funds so far realised for the project were from well-spirited individuals, corporate organisations and international donors” .
He called for their continued support and understanding to ensure that this lofty dream is realised to the glory of God and greater benefit of the humanity.
Responding, Vice President of Global Business Development and Managing Director of Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston Texas, USA , Mr. Mitch Latinkic who said the delegation was in Nigeria on assessment visit of the Abuja international Centre lauded the foresight of the First Lady in establishing the Cancer Centre.
He assured that the delegation would help where necessary especially to make an impact in prevention of Cancer disease which is dreaded in nature.
Meanwhile, the FCT Administration has destroyed over two hundred shanties harbouring criminals and drug peddlers in Mabushi District of the Federal Capital City, Abuja .
The operation was carried out at the weekend by the Ministerial Joint Task Force recently constituted by the FCT Minister, Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero to rid the City of illegal structures, shanties, street hawkers, beggars and commercial motorcyclists.
The suspected criminals and hard drug peddlers on sighting members of the FCT Ministerial Task Force escaped into the nearby bush.
It was observed that most of the shanties earlier removed by Ministerial Task Force were rebuilt to the greatest astonishment of the members; while in some cases they moved inward into the bush to erect additional shanties.
The Minister thus, lamented that the people are not cooperating but the operation would continue until they are tired and move out of such places with their illegal structures.
His words: “The FCT Administration would continue to discharge its statutory responsibility by maintaining the Abuja Master Plan in consonance with vision of its founding fathers as there would be no compromise” .
Senator Aliero reiterated that all black spots in Abuja must be adequately covered to save the residents of the trauma being experienced in the hands of the few undesirable elements who use such places as cover to perpetuate their illegal activities.
He warned that the war against illegal structures and criminal activities in the Federal Capital Territory is total and vowed that the operation would be a continuous one until Abuja is sanitised; insisting that no nooks and crannies of the city would be spared.
The Minister added that “they (crooks) have a chance to repent and get re-absorbed into the society or move out of the Federal Capital Territory as the FCT Administration is committed to get rid of them” .
Senator Aliero repeated the earlier call made to the allottees of undeveloped plots and those with abandoned, uncompleted buildings within serviced areas of the City including foreign missions to commence or completed the development of such properties.
“Accordingly they have been given six months grace period ending December 31, 2009 to commence/complete their development or face withdrawal/revocation their title documents”, the Minister stressed.
He insisted that there is no going back on that policy because the affected property owners/foreign missions have been given enough time from the previous FCT Administrations to date.
Senator Aliero remarked that alternative plots may however be made available to the Foreign Missions whenever they are ready to commence development as the government cannot condone non-development of property in the heart of city.
Justice Awaji, Abuja
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.